Debi's Story
I have an experience. I loved Def Leppard as a teenager, I wrote Rick Allen
a fan letter in 1980 and he wrote me back telling me about his mum, dad,
brother and dog named Porty. I still have the letter and the envelope it
came in. I never expected him to answer the letter. Then next year I got a
birthday card from him, what a shock that was. I remember the day I got his
drumsticks like it was yesterday. He had sent the drumsticks because when I had
seen them warm up for Blackfoot, on October 14, 1981 for the High N Dry
tour, I believe. I caught a drumstick of his, but later on during the
concert this guy in the seat behind me stole it out of my hand. I remember
crying to my mom when I got home and I wrote Rick Allen a letter explaining
what happened and he sent me his practice sticks. The letter, card, and
drumsticks are some of my prized possessions.
Sadly, I never got to meet him in person, I did meet the rest of the band
later when they played in 1983 for Pyromania warming up for Billy Squier. I
tried so hard to meet him, I waited around for hours and I ended up getting
a photo of him as he walked onto the tour bus. I remember how exciting it
was just to have that photo of him.
When I found out about the accident I was so upset. I am, to this day,
happy he is okay, and he is a great inspiration to me when I think there's
something I can't do.
Debi
